通往大房间的走道，卡尔斯巴德洞穴国家公园，新墨西哥州 Walkway leading into the Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico (© Doug Meek/Getty Images)

“深渊”探险 Rocking in the deep

卡尔斯巴德洞窟国家公园

深邃的岩石峡谷，高耸的古代海礁，新墨西哥州的卡尔斯巴德洞窟国家公园拥有世界上最独特的岩层。在其沙漠美景下隐藏着119余个洞穴，这些洞穴是由硫酸溶解周围的石灰岩时形成的。1930年的今天，卡尔斯巴德洞窟国家公园正式成立，它拥有北美最大的地下洞室——“大房间”，洞室里每一个角落和缝隙都是经过数百万年时光雕琢而成的杰作，例如像枝形吊灯一样悬挂着的巨大钟乳石，以及直插“天花板”的钟乳石笋，因此它被联合国教科文组织指定为世界遗产保护地，除了拥有奇特的自然美景外，卡尔斯巴德洞窟国家公园还会组织“蝙蝠飞行观赏”等活动，游客们可以看到成千上万只蝙蝠在洞穴里飞进飞出，场面刺激又壮观。如果您向往地下探险，卡尔斯巴德洞窟国家公园一定会带给您一段独特的体验。

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico

With deep rocky canyons and high ancient sea ledges, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico boasts some of the most unique rock formations in the world. Hidden beneath its desert scenery are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone. This national park, founded on this day in 1930, is also home to North America's largest underground chamber—the Big Room. From colossal stalactite formations hanging like chandeliers to stalagmite structures reaching for the ceiling, every nook and cranny is a masterpiece crafted over millions of years. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also organizes events like bat flight viewings, which allow visitors to watch thousands of bats as they swoop in and out of the cavern. Are you ready to explore the depths?

鱼河大峡谷，纳米比亚 Fish River Canyon, Namibia (© R. M. Nunes/Getty Images)

鱼眼视角 A fisheye view

鱼河大峡谷，纳米比亚

从世界上最古老的沙漠——纳米布沙漠，到奇妙的箭袋树森林，南非的纳米比亚拥有许多宝藏旅游景点。该国家最长的河流——鱼河，在数百万年的时间里侵蚀出了欧洲大陆最大的峡谷：鱼河大峡谷，它长约100英里，深约1800英尺，蜿蜒曲折，穿过风化的片麻岩层和白云岩。作为纳米比亚的热门景点之一，鱼河大峡谷以其长达50多英里的徒步小径和“鱼河峡谷超级马拉松比赛”吸引了无数探险者。此外，峡谷里还生活着哈特曼山斑马、山羚、东部岩象鼩等大大小小的生物。无论您是来轻徒步、远足、露营或者只是欣赏美景，鱼河大峡谷一定会让您终身难忘的。

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

The longest river in Namibia—the Fish River—has carved out Africa's largest canyon over millions of years. Winding through weathered layers of gneiss and dolomite rocks, the Fish River Canyon is around 100 miles long and about 1,800 feet deep. Its hiking trail stretches for more than 50 miles, attracting adventure seekers and ultramarathon runners. Moreover, with Hartmann's mountain zebras, klipspringers, and eastern rock elephant shrews, the canyon is teeming with creatures big and small. So, whether you are there for hiking, trekking, camping, or just soaking in the scenery, one thing's for sure: Fish River Canyon is a catch you won't soon forget.

米苏尔岛，拉贾安帕群岛，印度尼西亚 Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia (© Giordano Cipriani/Getty Images)

岛屿在召唤！ The islands are calling!

米苏尔岛，拉贾安帕群岛，印度尼西亚

想象一下，身在一个如此纯净的水生保护区，听着海洋把它的秘密悄悄告诉你！米苏尔岛是印度尼西亚拉贾安帕群岛中的一个岛屿，面积近800平方英里。群岛由四个主要岛屿组成，包括米索尔岛、威吉奥岛、巴丹塔岛和萨拉瓦蒂岛。在这里，海浪轻柔地抚摸着粉白色的沙滩，海面下则游弋着绚丽的海洋生物。这里的珊瑚礁以生物多样性著称，是许多潜水爱好者的梦想之地。游客还可以游览1982年建立的米苏尔岛自然保护区，观赏白色袋貂、蜜袋鼯、普通袋狸和其他有袋类动物。作为禁止捕鱼和狩猎的“禁渔区”以及鲨鱼和蝠鲼保护区，米苏尔岛为我们海洋的未来带来了希望。在这个小岛上，大自然最美好的礼物得到了保护和珍惜。

Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia

This pristine aquatic sanctuary so pristine that it feels like a secret whispered by the ocean itself. Misool is an island of almost 800 square miles within the Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia. The archipelago comprises four main islands, including Misool, Waigeo, Batanta, and Salawati. Here, the waves caress the powder-white sands, while a kaleidoscope of marine life swims beneath the surface. Raja Ampat is part of the Coral Triangle, a remote ocean wilderness that is home to hundreds of species of reef-building corals alongside marine turtles, sharks, whales, dugongs, dolphins, and thousands of species of reef fish. The archipelago is dotted with Marine Protected Areas, of which Misool is the largest, and includes nesting beaches for green and hawksbill turtles. Surrounded by a 'no-take zone' with fishing and hunting activities banned and a shark and manta ray sanctuary, Misool offers hope for the future of our oceans.

埃米尔甘公园的郁金香，伊斯坦布尔，土耳其 Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye (© Ozbalci/Getty Images)

恣意绽放的郁金香 Tulips gone wild!

伊斯坦布尔埃米尔甘公园的郁金香，土耳其

一大片五颜六色的郁金香给人带来的诱惑不言而喻。郁金香原产于中亚，从弗农山庄园到土耳其伊斯坦布尔熙熙攘攘的街道，这些球茎植物深受世界各地人们的喜爱。但郁金香不仅仅是装饰性花卉，它们还具有重要的文化意义。在不同的传统中，郁金香代表着爱情、生命、美丽和激情。在艺术作品中，郁金香常常被描绘成重生或青春的象征。

伊斯坦布尔的埃米尔甘公园是郁金香的天堂。公园里的郁金香种类繁多，达到令人眼花缭乱的程度。每年春天，这些郁金香都会为公园增添万花筒般的色彩。整个公园很大，囊括了120多种珍稀植物，还可以将博斯普鲁斯海峡的美景尽收眼底。如果你还没去过，那现在可以考虑动身了，因为春天是前往这个中东国家旅行的绝佳时机。

Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye

There's something to be said about the allure of a bed of colorful tulips. Originating from Central Asia, these bulbous plants are beloved worldwide, from the gardens of Mount Vernon, Washington, to the parks and avenues of Istanbul, Türkiye. But tulips are more than just decorative flowers. They represent love, life, beauty, and passion in various traditions and are often depicted in art as a symbol of rebirth or youth.

Emirgan Park in Istanbul celebrates tulips in all their glory, as the city hosts its annual tulip festival. The park boasts a dazzling variety of these flowers that paint the landscape with a kaleidoscope of colors. It is also home to more than 120 species of rare plants and trees, with gorgeous views of the Bosporus strait.

伊夫堡，马赛，法国 View of Château d'If in the port of Marseille, France (© Sergii Figurnyi/Alamy)

海港景色 (S)port perspective

马赛迎来奥运火炬

准备好在法国马赛享受阳光和奥林匹克精神吧。马赛是一座充满活力的海滨城市，以其丰富的海洋遗产和文化多样性而闻名，是通往地中海的门户。今天，奥运火炬的到来点燃了这里期待奥运的热潮。作为连接现代奥运会与古希腊文化遗产的一个象征，奥运火炬于4月16日在希腊奥林匹亚点燃，奥运圣火就此开启环绕法国的旅程，直至抵达巴黎奥运会。夏季奥运会将于7月26日开幕，而马赛正在为举办奥运会帆船比赛做准备，这座城市充满活力，将传统与创新融为一体。

在今天的图片中，我们可以从远处看到伊夫城堡，它作为大仲马作品《基督山伯爵》中的一个重要场景而闻名于世。这座建于16世纪的城堡屹立在蔚蓝的海水中，低声诉说着它作为文艺复兴时期堡垒、监狱以及文学缪斯女神的过去。

Marseille welcomes the Olympic torch

Get ready to soak up the sun and Olympic spirit in Marseille, France. A coastal city rich in maritime heritage and cultural diversity, today it welcomes the arrival of the Olympic torch on French soil. The fire was lit in Olympia, Greece, on April 16. Symbolizing the link between the modern games and their ancient Greek heritage, the flame embarks on its journey around host nation France, ahead of the Paris Olympics. The Summer Olympics will begin on July 26. As Marseille prepares to host the Olympic sailing competition, the city pulsates with energy, blending tradition with innovation.

The Château d'If, seen from afar in today's image, featured in Alexandre Dumas' famous novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo.' Standing steadfast amidst the azure waters, the château, built in the 16th century, whispers tales of its past as a Renaissance fortress, prison, and literary muse.

罗奇斯山脊，英格兰峰区 The Roaches, Peak District, England (© George W Johnson/Getty Images)

峰区一瞥 Where is this rocky ridge?

峰区罗奇斯山脊，英格兰

在今天的图片中，阳光照射在英格兰北部峰区的罗奇斯山脊上。但这个奇怪名字的由来是什么呢？它来自法语“les roches”，意思是“岩石”。罗奇斯山脊是峰区国家公园的一部分，它矗立在斯塔福德郡利克镇的上方，高度超过1600英尺，是登山者和徒步旅行者的热门目的地。在这里，你可以俯瞰荒野的壮丽景色，如果幸运的话，你甚至还能看到沙袋鼠！20世纪30年代，一些澳大利亚有袋动物从附近的私人动物园逃脱，至今仍有原始沙袋鼠后代的目击记录。

此外，罗奇斯山脊的毯状沼泽和高地沼泽是各种鸟类的栖息地，包括杓鹬、红松鸡、树鹨和游隼。在山脊顶端还有一个完全不同的生物栖息地——多克西池，根据当地传说，这个小池塘里居住着邪恶的美人鱼，她会引诱人们下水。

The Roaches ridge in the Peak District, England

In today's image, the sun encroaches on the Roaches, a rocky ridge in the Peak District, northern England. Its strange name comes from the French 'les roches,' which means 'the rocks.' Rising to a height of over 1,600 feet, the ridge is a popular destination for climbers and hikers in the Peak District National Park. It offers stunning views over the moorland and, if you're lucky, you may spot a wallaby! A number of these Australian marsupials escaped from a nearby private zoo in the 1930s, and there are still recorded sightings of the descendants of the original wallabies.

The Roaches is a protected habitat for other animals too; its blanket bogs and upland moorlands are home to a range of birds, including curlews, red grouse, tree pipits, and peregrine falcons. A very different sort of creature is said to live at the top of the ridge. Local legend has it that Doxey Pool—a small pond—is home to a malevolent mermaid who tempts people into the water.

圣米格尔德阿连德的柱廊，瓜那华托州，墨西哥 Colonnade in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico (© Mint Images/Getty Images)

为墨西哥干杯! Cheers to Mexico!

五月五日节快乐!

五月五日节是墨西哥传统的爱国主义节日，这一活动不能与9月16日举行的墨西哥独立日混为一谈，20世纪80年代，由于龙舌兰酒、啤酒和葡萄酒的广告宣传，五月五日节在美国得到了认可，难怪如今的五月五日节在美国已成为一个狂欢的节日。值得一提的是，墨西哥除了美酒佳肴之外，丰富多彩的文化也值得品尝，无论是建筑（比如图中的圣米格尔德阿连德市的街道）、历史、艺术还是风景。

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today's homepage takes us to the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende, to toast Cinco de Mayo, or 'Fifth of May.' Not to be confused with Mexico's Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo instead marks Mexico’s 1862 triumph over France at the Battle of Puebla. The holiday is observed in Mexico but has become popular in the US since the 1980s thanks to various advertising campaigns. Here it has evolved into a wider celebration of Mexican culture, whether it is food, history, art, or the colorful architecture of cities like San Miguel de Allende, established in the 16th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

斯凯利格·迈克尔岛上一座古老修道院的废墟，爱尔兰 The ruins of an ancient monastery on the island of Skellig Michael, Ireland (© MNStudio/Getty Images)

愿原力与你同在！ May the Fourth be with you!

星球大战日

光剑闪闪发光，机器人嘟嘟作响，让我们尽情狂欢吧！在这个银河系的节日里，从观看《星球大战》电影到装扮成自己最喜欢的角色，全世界的星战迷们开始尽情地享受星战的一切。今天的图片展示的是《星球大战》续集三部曲的拍摄地点：爱尔兰西南海岸的斯凯利格·迈克尔岛。这座被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产的地标建筑中，保存着一座由早期僧侣建立的六世纪修道院。在《星球大战：原力觉醒》中，绝地大师卢克·天行者曾在阿奇托星球上一座与世隔绝的岛屿避难，其取景地正是斯凯利格·迈克尔岛上的蜂巢小屋和石头楼梯。此外，斯凯利格·迈克尔岛上包括海鹦在内的大量海鸟，正是阿奇托岛上那长得像企鹅的波尔格鸟的灵感来源。所以，带上你的伍基人副驾驶，跳上你的星际飞船，在银河系的地球上，开启一段充满力量的旅程吧！

'Star Wars' Day

May the Force be with you on May 4, adopted by 'Star Wars' fans as the day to celebrate their favorite franchise. Many will recognize Skellig Michael, the island on our homepage, as the location of scenes from the 'Star Wars' sequels 'The Force Awakens' and 'The Last Jedi.' This UNESCO World Heritage Site appears in the movies as the planet Ahch-To, where Jedi master Luke Skywalker seeks refuge. Home to a 6th-century monastery with beehive huts and stone staircases, it also hosts a large seabird population that inspired the penguin-like porgs that roost on Ahch-To. Skellig Michael is about 7 miles off Ireland's southwestern coast, daily visitors are limited, and boat trips are canceled if it is too stormy. Still, the island attracts 'Star Wars' fans and others keen to see this ancient site, not so very far, far away.

春天盛开的沙漠毒菊，索诺拉沙漠，亚利桑那州 Brittlebushes blooming in springtime, Sonoran Desert, Arizona (© Charles Harker/Getty Images)

最热的地方也有凉爽之处 Even the hottest places are cool!

索诺拉沙漠，亚利桑那州

当温暖的阳光照在你身上时，你就知道自己来到了亚利桑那州的索诺拉沙漠！在这片干旱的土地上，生活着各种动物，如走鹃、吉拉毒蜥和沙漠乌龟。索诺拉沙漠有两个雨季，因此会有五颜六色的野花盛开，图中的沙漠毒菊就是其中之一。这些耐寒的灌木适应了干燥的气候，银灰色的叶子上覆盖着细毛，有助于减少蒸腾作用导致的水分流失。沙漠毒菊开出鲜艳的黄色花朵，一簇簇地挂在枝头，为沙漠增添了一抹亮色。另一种耐旱的沙漠植物是名为巨人柱的仙人掌，它可以活150多年，长到40英尺高。这些仙人掌为沙漠物种提供食物和栖息地。在托霍诺奥德姆人的文化中，仙人掌也是一种神圣的植物，可以用来满足生活需求和举行宗教仪式。

The Sonoran Desert, Arizona

Welcome to the Sonoran Desert, where life thrives despite the heat thanks to two seasons of rainfall. This subtropical desert spreads across parts of Mexico, California, and Arizona and is home to animals such as roadrunners, Gila monsters, and the Morafka's desert tortoise. Its rainy seasons are followed by the blossoming of colorful wildflowers such as the brittlebush, seen in today's image. These hardy shrubs are adapted to the dry seasons, with their silvery-gray leaves covered in fine hairs that help reduce water loss. Brittlebushes produce bright yellow flowers that bloom in clusters, adding splashes of color to the desert landscape. Another drought-loving desert flora is the saguaro cactus, which can live for over 150 years and grow up to 40 feet tall. The saguaro also provides food and shelter for desert species and is a sacred plant in the culture of the Tohono O'odham people.

蓝龙熔岩流，月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区，爱达荷州，美国 Blue Dragon Lava Flow, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho (© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images)

“月球一日游” To the moon and back

月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区100周年

系好安全带！让我们一起出发，去地球上的“外星王国”探险吧！今天主页展示的图片是月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区，它位于爱达荷州，被一片崎岖的地形包围着。数千年前，在火山的作用下，月球陨石坑诞生并形成了独特的地貌。踏上这片土地，迎接游客的是辽阔的熔岩荒原，火山渣锥和寄生熔岩锥，如此超现实的景象仿佛月球表面，因此这个占地近54,000 英亩的地区被取名为月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区。也因为这里的地貌像月球表面，阿波罗14号的宇航员在为登月计划做准备时，曾在这里接受训练，通过探索这里独特的火山地质，宇航员们可以深入了解月球上类似的地貌。

这片独特的地貌，超现实的景观延续至今离不开人类的保护。1924年5月2日，卡尔文·柯立芝总统发布公告，建立了月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区；2024年的今天，这个自然奇观迎来了100周年纪念日。如果你想不出地球就能游览外太空，月球陨石坑国家纪念碑和保护区是你的不二之选。

Craters of the Moon centennial

Buckle up, Earthlings, as you venture into an extraterrestrial realm right here on our planet! Surrounded by the rugged landscape of Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was born of the volcanic forces that shaped the region thousands of years ago. Visitors are greeted by vast lava fields, cinder cones, and spatter cones, spread across almost 54,000 acres. The Apollo 14 astronauts trained here, gaining insight into lunar conditions by exploring the volcanic geology of this surreal landscape.

Established on May 2, 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge, this natural wonder celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, marking a century of preservation and appreciation for its otherworldly beauty.